The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa

 

Title:  The Counterfeit Countess:  The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust

Author:  Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa

Narrated by:  Gilli Messer

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 50 minutes

Source: Thank you #HistoryBuffsBookClub, @History_In_Five, Simon & Schuster for the physical book review copy.  The audiobook version was purchased from Audible.com.

Do you have a favorite historical figure that you wish would get more recognition?  Now that I have learned about Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg in The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa, I hope she gets more recognition.  This was a perfect book to read for Women’s History month.

Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg was a Polish Jewish mathematician who used the identity papers of a Polish aristocrat, Countess Janina Suchodolska, to become a steely woman who saved the lives of thousands of Polish citizens from the Majdanek concentration camp.  She delivered food and medicine to help as many as she could.  She was almost captured several times but used her wits and brashness to never get captured.  This is her amazing story.

My thoughts on this book:

·       Nazis and Russians were good at using prejudice against certain groups of people to divide the populace.  Unfortunately, we still see this happening in current times.

·       The Polish people saw was happening to the Jews and wondered when it would start to happen to them.

·       This book tells the history and events of the day how they related to the overall story.

·       The horror and brutality were hard to read at times, like when they opened a cattle car and found the corpses of five hundred frozen children inside.

·       Even the “good” people had to be cajoled to help everyone including the Jews and to not just help the people like them (the Poles).

·       A horrifying statistic was that 18% of Polish people died in World War II and half of this figure were Jews.

·       I liked that Janina had the money and knowledge of the laws to be forceful with the Nazis and save so many lives.

·       The story was one of an imposter who as able to do so much good.  After the war her life was detailed as well as she immigrated to Canada and then the United States.  She ultimately was a professor of mathematics in Chicago.  She never talked about her wartime experiences.

·       I liked the pictures of Janina included in the physical book.

·       The audiobook was fascinating with a great narrator.

The Counterfeit Countess by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa is the true story of a heroic woman who deserves to be remembered in history as she put herself on the line to save and help thousands of people in Poland during World War II.

Wild for Austen by Devoney Looser

 

Title:  Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane

Author:  Devoney Looser

Narrated by:  Marisa Calin

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 6 minutes

Source: Thank you @Netgalley for the review copy.

If you could meet your favorite author, would you want to?  I get nervous meeting authors myself, but I do like to imagine that it would be fun to time travel and meet Jane Austen.

Jane Austen’s nephew wrote an autobiography of his aunt long after her death that described her as a quiet, pious spinster.  Author Devoney Looser argues that Austen was wilder for her time than we think.  This book examines her life, legacy, and works.

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       Wild for Austen by Devoney Looser was one of the March reads for the JASNA Northwood book club.  We found this book to be interesting to read and discuss.

·       The first section of the novel when through each Austen novel as well as her unfinished works and juvenilia and described the plot and “wildness” of the characters.  It really showed how original she was in her writing.  Lady Susan was picked out as a particular wild character.

·       I never thought of Persuasion before as a cliffhanger.  It was interesting to think that Napoleon would soon escape after the end of the novel, and our characters would be back at work in the Navy defending the country.  This would make a great sequel!

·       The second park of the book discussed Austen’s family, friend, and potential inspirations.  Some of these people, like Cousin Eliza, were in her life, while others were conjectured or brief acquaintances she may have met at a party.  I wasn’t convinced that they all inspired Austen.

·       Austen’s mother’s Leigh family was quite large and have many writers in it.

·       The audiobook was engaging with a good narrator.

·       I enjoyed that this book showed that Austen traveled and had a wide array of acquaintances, which was more than the few country families she wrote of in her fiction.

·       There was a very interesting piece on the Austen family’s involvement in the abolition movement.  Three brothers were activity and publicly involved after Austen’s death according to new research from the author.  She found information in newspaper articles from the day.

·       Great Aunt Leigh-Perrot’s shoplifting episode and trial was explained in much detail, more than I had read previously.  I thought it was very interesting.  I still wonder if she was a kleptomaniac or was being scammed by the shop.

·       The third section of the book was not as interesting to me.  It discussed Austen erotica but didn’t sadly discuss regular retellings or continuations.  It also spent time on films that weren’t made, which didn’t really interest me.

·       I did like that the author stated that one can keep Austen alive by talking to others about Jane Austen, reading her books, and watching her Austen inspired movies.

Overall, Wild for Austen by Devoney Looser was an interesting and unique look into Austen’s life and works.

The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams

 

Title:  The Seven Daughters of Dupree

Author:  Nikesha Elise Williams

Narrated by:  Bahni Turpin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 7 minutes

Source: Thank you, Simon & Schuster Audio, for the review copy!

What was your last read of March?  I finished up The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams right on March 31^st!

In 1995, fourteen-year-old Tati wants to find out the identify of her father.  Her mother Nadia keeps her secrets close as does her grandmother Gladys.  As Tati digs into her family history, she discovers that family secrets have been a part of her family legacy for generations.  Will she find the answers she seeks? 

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This novel showed how trauma is passed down through the generations.

·       It had a nonlinear structure.

·       The story takes place anywhere from the 1860s to contemporary times.

·       Bahni Turpin was an excellent narrator and she had great unique voices for each of the characters.

·       There was a mystery throughout the book of who their mysterious enslaved ancestress was and what happened to her.  The story is finally told towards the end of the novel.  It was a horrifying story and really showed the evils of the slavery.

·       A curse follows the women of the family, and they can only have one female child per generation.

·       This is a multigenerational family saga – I love these types of books.

·       Trigger warning.  This novel includes descriptions of many miscarriages and baby deaths.  These poor women had a hard time carrying a baby.  Rape is also part of the story.

·       The story jumped around characters and timelines.  I enjoyed it.  I thought it worked well on audiobook and it helped me that the ladies would show up as mothers or grandmothers and it helped me to realize what timeline the story was in.

·       I loved the characters and their individual stories.  There was pain and abandonment, but there were dreams realized and a loving family.  It was a story of resilience.

·       I can’t believe this is a debut novel!

·       I loved the ending and how all secrets were finally told, and the women were able to live their dreams.

Overall, The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams was a heart felt multigenerational saga that showed how trauma, resilience, and love can pass down the generations.

A Jane Austen Year curated by Jane Austen’s House (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What was the last book you purchased just because of Instagram?  Frozen River for me!

A Jane Austen Year celebrates Jane Austen’s 250^th birthday year by exploring her life through her letters, objects, and manuscripts.  This is put together by the curators of Jane Austen’s house in Chawton – a place that is on my bucket list to visit.

The introduction talks about how this book was written from Jane Austen’s house in Chawton and how it has “an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures including items of furniture, paintings, and household objects.  Visitors can discover Jane’s personal letters and first editions of her novels, items of jewelry, portraits of her friends and family, and the tiny writing table at which she wrote.”

This book shows us fragments of Jane Austen’s life.  It is split up into twelve months.  Each month details events from her books and life that happened in that month.  For example, in January:

·       The Dashwood sisters take a trip to London the first week of January.  Artwork is shown of this trip and an excerpt from the novel.

·       A picture of the miniature of Tom Lefroy and a written description of Jane dancing with Tom in January.

·       Pride and Prejudice was published on January 28, 1813.

·       On January 14, 1817, Jane wrote a friend asking for her orange wine recipe.  The recipe is shown as well as a beautiful picture.

·       A letter is written out that was sent from Jane to Cassandra on January 29, 1813.

·       A picture of Jane’s piano and a description of the two books of sheet music that were copied by Jane.

·       A picture and description of the French Revolution including snippets of a letter Jane wrote to her cousin Phila Walter about her poor cousin Eliza’s husband, the Comte de Feuille, who was executed in France during the revolution.

I loved all the Christmas information that was listed in the month of December.  The book is both informative and beautiful.  There is also a great index at the end of the book and more detailed information about Jane Austen’s house.

Overall, A Jane Austen Year is a fantastic book for any Jane Austen lover in your life (including yourself).  It would be fun to read throughout a year but was also great to read all at once.  It’s a nice conservation book for like minded Jane Austen loving friends.

Book Source:  Review copy from @janeaustenshouse @batsfordbooks as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

This beautifully illustrated book charts the life of one of the world’s most beloved authors through the letters, objects, and manuscripts that shaped her life.

Published in partnership with the curators of Jane Austen’s House, the enchanting Hampshire cottage where Jane Austen’s genius flourished that now attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Arranged over the course of a calendar year, from snowy scenes in January to festive recipes in December, specially commissioned photography of Austen’s home and possessions are brought together with extracts from her books, reproductions of her letters, and stories of her life throughout the seasons. Highlights include the first time Austen read a published copy of Pride and Prejudice to an enraptured audience in her drawing room, affectionate letters to her sister Cassandra reproduced in full and an exquisite miniature portrait of Tom Lefroy, the man she nearly married.

Read this book for a unique and intimate insight into Austen’s world. Dip into it as you will, or visit each month, and enjoy a full year of Austen—her life, works and letters, people and objects she knew, and of course her idyllic, inspiring home.

CURATOR BIO

Jane Austen’s House is the inspiring Hampshire cottage where the beloved author lived for the last eight years of her life. It houses an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures. Highlights include Jane’s jewelry, letters, first editions of her novels, and the table at which she wrote her much loved novels. Visitors can step back in time to 1816 and follow in Austen’s footsteps as they explore the rooms where she lived and wrote. It has been open to the public as a museum since 1949 and is an international center for Jane Austen studies.

The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush

 

Title: The Six:  The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts

Author:  Loren Grush

Narrated by:  Ines del Castillo

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 41 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you @simonandschuster @BookClubFavorites #BookClubFavorites for the free books!

Can you name the first six women astronauts?  Before I read this book, I only knew about the first woman in space, Sally Ride.  I was very happy to learn the remarkable story of the first class of female astronauts selected in 1978:  Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Kathy Sullivan, Anna Fisher, Margaret “Rhea” Seddon, and Shannon Lucid through the new book The Six by Loren Grush.

My thoughts on this book: 

·       I read this both as a physical book and listened to the audiobook.  I liked that the book had a brief two pages of the “cast of characters” describing the six women astronauts.  It helped me to keep the ladies straight while I was listening to the audiobook.  I would reference this section often at the start of the book.

·       The physical book has great pictures and index.

·       Nichelle Nichols visited Nasa’s newly named Johnson Space Center to talk about the space shuttle and a new crop of astronauts.  These astronauts were going to be more than just test pilots.  They wanted scientists and engineers, women, and people of color to apply.  This sounds like it was a very inspirational pitch that got a lot of people to apply.

·       Just like their male counterparts, all six women were extraordinary, very smart, and successful people.

·       Unfortunately, the novelty of female astronauts caused a lot of press and strange questions to them.  I can’t imagine as an engineer being asked about make-up and dating rather than your skills that got you to your position.

·       I really identified with Judy Resnik and loved her story.  I was horrified to discover that she was killed on the Challenger.  I was eight when the Challenger exploded, and we watched it live on TV at school.  Christa McAuliffe, a schoolteacher going to space to show that space travel was for everyone, is the person that most stuck in my mind from this disaster.  I was glad to learn more about the rest of the crew.

·       Besides learning the early history of each woman and why they became astronauts, and how they made their way through training and going to space, I learned a great deal about the space program in the 1970s and 1980s.

·       I also learned a lot about the Challenger disaster and Sally Ride’s involvement in the investigation afterwards.  I want to learn more.

·       Each woman was treated in the book as an individual and we also learned about their lives outside of the space program.

·       Sally Ride was chosen as the first woman in space as it was believed she could best handle the overwhelming attention she received.  It is amazing how much attention she received compared to the other five women.

·       The writing was very engaging, and I learned a lot from this nonfiction book.  I read most of this book for Women’s History month in March and finished it up at the beginning of April.

 Overall, The Six is a captivating nonfiction book that chronicles that true stories of the first six women astronauts.  I recommend it to everyone.

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

 

Title:  The Light We Carry:  Overcoming in Uncertain Times

Author:  Michelle Obama

Narrated by:  Michelle Obama

Publisher: Random House Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 59 minutes

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Physical copy was a Christmas gift.  Thank-you!

 

What have been some good inspirational books that you have read lately?

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Light We Carry:  Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama in February.  I love first ladies and hearing their personal stories.  My thoughts on this book:

·       This book had Michelle Obama’s thoughts on the state of the world coming out of the COVID lockdown and how to stay connected.  I thought this was all good and thoughtful information.

·       I enjoyed the personal vignettes on her life throughout the book.  I also enjoyed her theme of aiming high while moving forward with life.

·       I liked the discussion on how difficult it is to make new friends when you live in the White House.

·       I loved hearing more of the love story between Barack and Michelle Obama.  I especially like that Barack had a list for why they should date when he was trying to convince Michelle.  He sounded like an engineer.

·       This book was a great mix of advice, self-help, and real life experiences.

·       I read this reading this book in the physical copy as well as listening to Michelle Obama narrate the audiobook.  I love it when authors narrate their own books.

Overall, The Light We Carry was both an inspiring book and a book to learn more about the former first lady.